Poll shows Floridians believe gays and lesbians should have equal rights

Despite vote to bar gay marriage, equal rights are favored

By Scott Travis | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
November 16, 2008

Floridians may not support same-sex marriage, but they overwhelmingly believe gays and lesbians should have equal rights in a number of other areas, a survey indicates.

Gay activists are still reeling over a loss Nov. 4, when state residents voted 62 percent in favor of Amendment 2, which adds Florida's existing ban on gay marriage into the state constitution. But a poll conducted as part of that campaign also asked another question unrelated to marriage: Should gays and lesbians have the same rights as everyone else with regards to housing, job opportunities and public accommodations, such as restaurants and movie theaters?

The results showed 89 percent of respondents answered yes.

There were no significant differences among political parties, with 87 percent of Republicans, 90 percent of Democrats and 93 percent of independents supporting equal rights, the poll shows.

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